The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines will continue to call attention to press freedom violations, including online censorship, and will ramp up campaigns for the decriminalization of libel and for a better Freedom of Information mechanism in the next two years.
At its 12th National Congress in Quezon City over the weekend, the press freedom and media workers’ welfare group approved its General Program of Action from 2024 to 2026, which will include continued engagement with UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan in preparation for her report to the UN Human Rights Council in mid-2025.
The National Congress, NUJP’s policy-making body, also resolved to express its strong opposition to the continued censorship of Bulatlat and PinoyWeekly — both newsrooms have established and active NUJP chapters — as part of a wider campaign against online censorship and cyber attacks.
“Journalists are defenders of press freedom and free expression and are called upon to unite in solidarity to challenge and resist any form of censorship and repression,” the resolution reads.
Bulatlat and PinoyWeekly are among dozens of websites that the NTC has ordered blocked for alleged links to the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army. Bulatlat has questioned the order in court, saying there is no truth to the NTC’s assertion and that it is not even a designated organization under the Anti-Terrorism Council’s jurisdiction.
Aside from continuing its campaign to call for the scrapping of the order, NUJP will engage with government agencies as well as with partners in the Philippines and abroad for solidarity and support over the issue.
NUJP and its chapters will also mark March 12 of each year as the World Day Against Cyber Censorship alongside press freedom and freedom of expression advocates around the world.
National directorate elected
The 12th National Congress, composed of the chairpersons and representatives of the chapters of the NUJP, also elected officers to its National Directorate.
The 15 directors elected among themselves members of the executive committee, which will handle the day-to-day operations of the organization in consultation and coordination with the chapters
Chairperson: Jonathan de Santos
Vice Chairperson: Macel Ingles
Secretary General: Ronalyn Olea
Deputy Secretary General: Lady Ann Salem
Treasurer: Alyssa Mae Clarin
Auditor: Ricky Bautista
Directors:
Anjo Bagaoisan
Sherwin De Vera
Lourdes Escaros
Marchel Espina
Reynard Magtoto
Zorayda Mustaril
Rey Suravasquez
Richel Umel
DJ Yap
Established in 1986, NUJP is a lateral guild working for press freedom and media workers’ welfare. It has more than 30 chapters across the Philippines as well as in Europe, North America and the Middle East.
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